Post by mypassion on Feb 3, 2008 22:11:26 GMT 5.5
What documents required for application, besides standardized test scores ?
Every university has detailed and specific guidelines in their application
brochure about the documents that they will need you to submit with
the application. However, it is good to have a general idea of the sort
of documents that are usually needed for an application to be deemed
complete. Here is a list:
• College Transcripts: A transcript is another name for a marksheet
provided by your college or university at the end of each semester,
that lists in detail the courses taken and the grades obtained in
these courses. You are allowed to send notarized copies of your
transcripts with the application. The admission will then be contingent
upon your providing the original transcripts when you join.
Another point is that since you will usually send out your applications
before you have graduated from your college, it is okay to
provide the marksheets only up to that semester. However, you will
need to provide the rest when you join.
• Letters of Recommendation: Most universities require you to provide
three letters of recommentation. The faculty members in your
department are the best people to ask for these letters. However, if
you did an internship at another institution or corporation, getting
a letter from your mentor or supervisor would be a big plus. Some
universities will provide actual recommendation forms that you
may get filled out by your references, in lieu of letters. In general,
a good letter of recommendation would touch upon not only your
academic achievements but also your analytical and problem-solving
skills and preferable provide some anecdotal examples.
• Statement of Purpose: This will possibly turn out to be the most
important document in your application. A statement of purpose
can best be described as a document for your academic past and
the future. It should clearly describe why you chose your particular
acadmic discipline, why you are interested in pursuing graduate
study in that discipline ir why you are interested in a different
discipline than the one you did your bachelor’s degree in. It should
also clearly outline the ideas you have about what you would like to
do and what you are interested in researching. It is very important
that these ideas and interests mesh with the interests of a group of
a faculty member at that university, which you should find out and
mention in the statement. You should also read some of the research
that the group or the faculty member has published in conferences
and journals to find out more about the kind of research
that they do and the direction that it is headed in. This will help
you immensely.
• Financial Support Statement: Another important document is the
financial support statement. This is usually in the shape of a form
provided with the application. In this document, you will usually
provide declare your financial assets to show that you will be able
to support the first year of your graduate education at the university.
You will probably need to provide notarized bank statements
along with this statement. However, it is entirely possible that you
may not need to submit this until you have been granted an admission
to the university. It usually depends upon the university
admission policy.
Every university has detailed and specific guidelines in their application
brochure about the documents that they will need you to submit with
the application. However, it is good to have a general idea of the sort
of documents that are usually needed for an application to be deemed
complete. Here is a list:
• College Transcripts: A transcript is another name for a marksheet
provided by your college or university at the end of each semester,
that lists in detail the courses taken and the grades obtained in
these courses. You are allowed to send notarized copies of your
transcripts with the application. The admission will then be contingent
upon your providing the original transcripts when you join.
Another point is that since you will usually send out your applications
before you have graduated from your college, it is okay to
provide the marksheets only up to that semester. However, you will
need to provide the rest when you join.
• Letters of Recommendation: Most universities require you to provide
three letters of recommentation. The faculty members in your
department are the best people to ask for these letters. However, if
you did an internship at another institution or corporation, getting
a letter from your mentor or supervisor would be a big plus. Some
universities will provide actual recommendation forms that you
may get filled out by your references, in lieu of letters. In general,
a good letter of recommendation would touch upon not only your
academic achievements but also your analytical and problem-solving
skills and preferable provide some anecdotal examples.
• Statement of Purpose: This will possibly turn out to be the most
important document in your application. A statement of purpose
can best be described as a document for your academic past and
the future. It should clearly describe why you chose your particular
acadmic discipline, why you are interested in pursuing graduate
study in that discipline ir why you are interested in a different
discipline than the one you did your bachelor’s degree in. It should
also clearly outline the ideas you have about what you would like to
do and what you are interested in researching. It is very important
that these ideas and interests mesh with the interests of a group of
a faculty member at that university, which you should find out and
mention in the statement. You should also read some of the research
that the group or the faculty member has published in conferences
and journals to find out more about the kind of research
that they do and the direction that it is headed in. This will help
you immensely.
• Financial Support Statement: Another important document is the
financial support statement. This is usually in the shape of a form
provided with the application. In this document, you will usually
provide declare your financial assets to show that you will be able
to support the first year of your graduate education at the university.
You will probably need to provide notarized bank statements
along with this statement. However, it is entirely possible that you
may not need to submit this until you have been granted an admission
to the university. It usually depends upon the university
admission policy.